Are you Physically or Emotionally Toxic?

Due to my pretty undisciplined and overindulgent end of summer, I feel inspired to embark on a four week detox in October. As I was thinking about what kind of detox to do and offer others, I got an intuitive hit to add the emotional part to it too. I talk about emotional detoxing in Fit 2 Love but I have never led a group of people through one.
There are people out there that consider themselves “health gurus” and steer clear of all potentially harmful foods. They ONLY eat organic, GMO free foods and they scowl at anyone else who is not following their lead. And then there is the Vegan, Raw, Vegetarians and even Gluten Free (of that crowd I am) who also choose it for “moral” reasons, not necessarily heath, and shoot you a look of death every time you open your mouth and insert a food they disapprove.

What I think is hilarious is that while their diet and bodies might be as toxic free as you can do in this day in age, their emotions are causing equal if not greater toxicity with the judgment.

This topic has been in the front of my mind for a long time because as a gluten free and want-to-be dairy free personal trainer, author and speaker, I care about what goes into my body. I also have found myself with other people in my line of work who are WAY more extreme than I am and then turn around and get angry at other people for their choices. I have been on the receiving end of the judgment (and I am sure my husband would tell you I can dish it out too) and am shocked by the feelings that get evoked. It’s been a good mirror for me to calm down my own concern for my family and clients to make sure I am giving off loving, supportive energy instead of condemning them. I have a few people in my circles who have confirmed that I do not judge or at least they do not feel judged by me so I think I am in check!

About a month ago I went to see the Steve Jobs movie. Now I have not read the book and I did not follow the story in all the details so the movie is my only basis for these opinions I am about to share here. None of my observations and opinions are a reflection of what contributions he made or what an amazing man he may have been- I didn’t personally know him so please take what I am about to say with a grain of salt. Consider it but if it triggers you in anyway, I apologize.

After he passed and the book came out, I heard a lot of people commenting negatively on the fact that he only did alternative treatment for his cancer. I had nothing to contribute at the time because I didn’t know very much about him or his life. About ten minutes into the movie, it became clear to me that Steve Jobs had so much emotional toxicity that I don’t think he would have had long term success with ANY treatment.

If the movie is accurate, he suffered deep hurt and feelings of betrayal from the time he learned he was adopted. Then his behavior throughout the building of his company showed that he was so excited about the innovation of new technology that he was almost disinterested in the connection between people. Then you have the betrayal of the company he built when they voted him off the board and we see him retaliate years later when he is asked back.

My first impression, without hearing all the commentary since on documentaries from former co-workers and friends, is that Steve Jobs was deeply hurt, sad and angry. Emotions and thoughts are JUST as toxic in the body as eating a piece of GMO corn. In fact, I think the emotional part outweighs the food because a happy, loving body has a stronger immune system than one with buried anger, resentment and fear.

Illnesses, ailments, disorders and damages in our bodies represent the final warning system regarding the beliefs about one’s relationships with others, position in the society, and relationship with spirit.

While this information is going to fly over some of your heads because it’s too much to take in and very different from how you were raised to think, some of you will feel a strong sense of connection and readiness with what I have just said.

I believe in the power of love to heal, we just may need to uncover where the deficit is located first. Your emotions are the guidepost and your body is the last stop to warn you. When a physical issue is truly only physical, it heals in a reasonable time and responds immediately to physical treatment. Our bodies heal themselves all the time- we have the most amazing regenerative system. Think about a cut on your arm and how that heals itself after a few days.

Chronic pain is the body’s way of telling you that the root is not physical and the environmental components that seem to “cause” your pain are only triggers. Dr. John Sarno, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and attending physician at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center, is one of my favorite pioneers on this subject. He has written books and produced a DVD to explain this emotional connection with a focus on back, neck and shoulder pain. We call it the Mind-Body Connection.

Has your body been speaking to you? Do you know what it is asking for? Is it time for a detoxification? Click here for details about the Oct detox if you feel ready to release anything that is no longer serving you.

JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist. She is the Director of Invisible Fitness, an Amazon best-selling author of Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life, and author of Knack Absolute Abs: Routines for a Fit and Firm Core, and was named Best Personal Trainer in Los Angeles for 2007 by Elite Traveler Magazine. JJ vividly reminds us that the word ‘fitness’ is not just about the state of one’s physical body, but also the factors which determine a person’s overall well being. And, for JJ, the key components in all these areas are ‘invisible’ — balanced support structures of nutrition, emotional centeredness and health. A video expert for About.com and regular contributor for The Daily Love, JJ has been featured in many national magazines such as Shape, Fitness, Muscle and Fitness HERS, Elegant Bride, and Women’s Health as well as appeared on NBC, CBS, Fox 11 and KTLA. For her clients & followers, JJ designs customized coaching programs and unique, versatile approaches that harmonize the emotional, the mental and the spiritual. Find out more at Invisiblefitness.com or jjflizanes.com .